It’s eclectic….It’s charming…..It’s diverse…..It’s unique…..It’s on the cusp of reinvention …..It’s kept it’s historical value…It’s Providence… Come to Providence as this article below beckons and stay awhile. Come eat at some of the finest restaurants on the East Coast and take in our emerging craft beer scene continuously bringing in some of the best hops around at The Guild in Pawtucket….Head to Federal Hill and enjoy some of the best Italian food found anywhere. All right here in walkable, bike-able*, hip, happening Providence. Visit on a Saturday night and take in Waterfire down by my office at Water Place Park!  Take a walking tour up by my Alma Mater on College Hill and take in some essential New England Architectural beauty found along Benefit Street and Prospect St. Enjoy a coffee along Wickenden St or take in a movie sitting on a couch at the famous Cable Car Cinema. Head over to my favorite city parts – Elmwood and The Armory District and see Victorians, wall art and eat authentic cuisine at the numerous “markets” found sprinkled along Broadway in the West End. Take in a performance at the Performing Arts Center and then nosh on some late night eats at the renowned Haven Brothers food truck in Downtown PVD….

Come to Providence and see her charm, her innate beauty and then reach out to me so that I can show you a property or two..Heck , you may never leave like this RI born and bred Realtor can attest to!!! Here’s to our beloved PVD of old and of “new”…. A city wrapped tightly in her ways of old yet slowly morphing into something quite magnificent!

* http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20180319/rentable-smartbikes-coming-soon-to-providence

https://www.vogue.com/article/where-to-eat-drink-find-art-in-providence-rhode-island-travel-guide

                                       7 home maintenance tasks sellers must do before listing

Proactive is the buzzword when addressing both cosmetic and mechanical components of a listing. If you are thinking of listing your home now is the time to tackle these practical and “listing imperative” home maintenance projects!  I’ve been meeting with several clients thinking of listing their homes all around RI the past few weeks and would love to meet with you to come up with a game plan! Please reach out to me at 401 255 2578 and I will be happy to come do a consultation. With sales in Newport, Barrington, Rumford and Providence I truly love engaging in real estate ALL around this spectacular state! Give me a call and we can put together a game plan!

Spruce up the exterior

Curb appeal…it’s more than just a buzz word as the exterior is the first thing a buyer will see whether online or driving by. Now is the time to make sure it looks its best.

Walk around the entire exterior of the home, and conduct an assessment.

Consider pressure washing, painting, having the windows cleaned, cleaning out gutters, trimming back any overgrown or dead landscaping, cleaning the front door and changing out any worn door hardware that may look old and corroded. And make sure the front doorbell actually works!

Service the heating/cooling system

A home inspector is going to check this anyway, so be ahead of the game  by having the system serviced and cleaned. It’s better to take care of any repairs that may need addressing now versus waiting until a buyer decides to make an offer.

Do a light bulb check

Make sure all of the lightbulbs are working and free of dirt and debris. Don’t forget to check the outdoor lights as well.

Check the smoke detectors

Now is the time to make sure that all smoke detectors are working and have new batteries. Replace any old ones as an inspector is likely to flag those during a home inspection and recommend that they be replaced.

Blue tape it

Conduct a thorough walk through of the interior of the home. If there are any nicks, dents or scratches on the walls and moldings, blue tape them so sellers can go through and have each area repaired.

The more wear and tear a home appears to have, the more the buyer is going to chip away at the asking price.

Deep clean, declutter and depersonalize.

Now is the time to give the home that deep clean it needs. Consider hiring a cleaning crew to tackle this; the more hands, the better.

Deep cleaning means wiping down all of the baseboards and moldings and cleaning cabinets, appliances (including the oven) and every corner from top to bottom including light fixtures and ceiling fans.

It’s also a good time to gather all those unwanted closet items together to donate as well as any unused furniture and decor. The less stuff in the house, the less there is to organize and keep clean. Similarly the less personlized the home the better as far as a potential sale goes.  Once our outstanding photographs have captured our online viewers ( 90 % of buyers begin online) and they step foot into your home we desire a space in which they can envision themeselves living.  A living room where the buyer can see his or herself sitting down to read a book, or watch a Patriots game….a kitchen where the spacious, clutter free island invites thoughts of homework acitivities and family meals….. We want to present to the buyers a clean, tidy, distraction free ” canvas” from which a buyer can envision writing his or her own story….

Clear out the garage

Often overlooked when preparing a home for sale, don’t forget this space. Make sure the garage is clean, in good repair, organized and that you can actually walk through it.

Consider painting the floor or having an epoxy finish put down. Take a look up at the ceiling as well because also look up when touring this space, so make sure any drywall cracks or loose seams are repaired.

Buyers recognize and appreciate homes that have been taken care of. Taking some time to invest in home maintenance before selling will likely yield a big payoff when it becomes offer time.

As I took this photo below this morning the feel , smell and excitement of spring is truly in the air! I’m excited , motivated and enthusiastic about the potential stellar sales in the spring market forecast here in RI for all of my clients! Reach out to me so that we can come up with a game plan for your beloved home should a listing be on your spring or summer ” to do ” list!  All the best, Sarah

Music for me has always been my outlet…My daily source of ” disengagement”…of escape… Akin to diving into a great book, music allows one to go outside of oneself…to look within oneself deeply, to reflect. Music also provides imagery…..the melancholy of a tune bringing thoughts of loss or sadness and the upbeat, heightened points of a song bringing thoughts filled with joy, with happiness. It’s that emotive effect of music that I covet the most. Music and art go hand in hand. Both forms of expressing oneself or sharing with the world an outlook , a perspective. To hear that Drake has collaborated with Sotheby’s instantly grabbed my attention. For many it seems an odd pairing, a dichotomous twosome but for me not at all. Drake in his most raw fashion is a genuine artist….expressing the trials and tribulations of inner city life to that of living the “high life” as a famed celebrity in our uber socially connected world. Whether one enjoys his style of music or not is completely subjective but to see his music linked with the likes of Sotheby’s fine art is completely enchanting and awesome. Music and art…both means of expression…both instruments utilized to tell a story and to share or express an idea or viewpoint. To me as a Realtor and lover of the written word , the same can be said about the story each home has to tell. The art of telling that story , alinged with the most trustworthy brand in the luxury market, that of Sotheby’s, is a challenge I’m fortunate to be given. It’s a gift to be a Realtor representing this incredible brand and it’s my job as a Realtor to convey the art behind each and every home…to tell it’s story…to “sing the music” each home is seeking to exude.. It’s an honor and a task I hold near and dear to my heart. Art, music and real estate Sotheby’s Style…..I’m all in!

http://www.vulture.com/2015/05/drake-on-his-nerve-racking-sothebys-collab.html

Just released Rhode Island Market Insight found below! A consistent  statitistic of price upticks and low inventory extending with an overall increase of 9% in the median home price this past month with days on market decreasing from 5 months to 3 months. The numbers continue to support the observance of competitively priced homes moving swiftly and lucratively here in the Ocean State. Click below to get all the details contained regarding the RI real estate market for January and please reach out to me if I can be of real estate assistance here in RI or Ma! I truly love what I do!

https://indd.adobe.com/view/8dbdfeab-2394-4f36-8125-ad76323d0a17?utm_campaign=website&utm_source=sendgrid.com&utm_medium=email

Looking for some fun winter activities for the pre holiday weekend? Despite the often stagnant “mid season” status we are in there are actually several fun local events to be a part of this weekend here in the Ocean State! If outdoor activities are appealing you might want to consider heading down to the Newport Winter Festival which begins this weekend and runs through Feb. 25th. There will be over 150 events in the lovely “City by the Sea” (where I sold my very first home!) including a free ice sculpting demo on Saturday at the Long Wharf Mall. Check out www.newportwinterfestival.com for more info!

http://www.providencejournal.com/entertainmentlife/20180131/ri-pubs-restaurants-gear-up-for-super-bowl-sunday

As a former teacher I believe strongly in the notion that knowledge is power. The more information I can offer to my clients, the more empowered they will feel and the more fortified they will be when entering a real estate transaction!! Working with my clients and FOR my clients in the most seamless, insightful, proactive manner possible is always my main goal. Along those lines I am posting for you the common ABCs of real estate. Once a teacher, always a teacher I do say!!! Please do reach out to me if I can be of any assistance with real estate endeavors here in RI or Ma! I truly love to be of help to my clients!

Mott & Chace Sotheby International Realty’s December Market Report is featured below. I hope you find the reports informative and please reach out to me if I can be of any assistance with purchasing or listing pursuits this spring! I truly love what I do and find representing and advocating for my clients to be the most rewarding and most prized part of being a Realtor!

Mott & Chace Sotheby’s International Realty is pleased to release the Rhode Island real estate single family home statistics for December 2017 which continues to show an increasing demand for well-priced homes in the marketplace. The median home price for new listings increased 13.5%, while the supply of inventory decreased from 6.7 months to 3.3 months when compared to the same time period last year. Additionally, the average days on market decreased 19.5% in December 2017 when compared to last year. The economic indicators for real estate (low mortgage rates, low unemployment rates, inventory shortage and rising costs of rent) suggest gains will continue at least in the short term. The 13.5% increase in median home price for new listings coupled with a 3.3 months supply of inventory add credence to this trend. The economic signs that affect real estate continue to be positive. The financial markets had another record breaking year. Jobless claims are the lowest since 1973; consumer confidence rose to a 17-year high and the world economy had its best year since the financial crisis of 2008.

Major tax legislation passed in late December benefits corporations and is forecasted to help fuel the bull market yet another year. For homeowners, tax reform reduces the amount of property tax that can be deducted, increasing the after-tax cost of homeownership in higher price points. Buyers’ purchasing power is reduced as well, with the impact greatest in the luxury market. We anticipate that declining purchasing power will exert pressure on luxury inventory to offset the new math of tax reform.

We are monitoring the markets closely since the legislation passed and so far, buyer behavior appears unchanged. Properties are going under contract, transactions are going to closing and showings, a leading indicator of future pended sales, are remaining steady. The surging equity markets and growing portfolios have created an unprecedented wealth effect. However, post-recession buyers are disciplined, cautious and informed. They want a fair price that can be justified.

We wil continue to monitor market activity through the first quarter. In the interim, our job remains the same – to give buyers and sellers the tools to make an informed real estate decision. Tax changes are nuanced and tax planning is different for everyone. There is no “one size fits all” and your tax advisor can provide comprehensive guidance.

Mott & Chace Sotheby’s International Realty is pleased to release the Rhode Island real estate single family home statistics for December 2017 which continues to show an increasing demand for well-priced homes in the marketplace. The median home price for new listings increased 13.5%, while the supply of inventory decreased from 6.7 months to 3.3 months when compared to the same time period last year. Additionally, the average days on market decreased 19.5% in December 2017 when compared to last year. The economic indicators for real estate (low mortgage rates, low unemployment rates, inventory shortage and rising costs of rent) suggest gains will continue at least in the short term. The 13.5% increase in median home price for new listings coupled with a 3.3 months supply of inventory add credence to this trend. The economic signs that affect real estate continue to be positive. The financial markets had another record breaking year. Jobless claims are the lowest since 1973; consumer confidence rose to a 17-year high and the world economy had its best year since the financial crisis of 2008.

Major tax legislation passed in late December benefits corporations and is forecasted to help fuel the bull market yet another year. For homeowners, tax reform reduces the amount of property tax that can be deducted, increasing the after-tax cost of homeownership in higher price points. Buyers’ purchasing power is reduced as well, with the impact greatest in the luxury market. We anticipate that declining purchasing power will exert pressure on luxury inventory to offset the new math of tax reform.

We are monitoring the markets closely since the legislation passed and so far, buyer behavior appears unchanged. Properties are going under contract, transactions are going to closing and showings, a leading indicator of future pended sales, are remaining steady. The surging equity markets and growing portfolios have created an unprecedented wealth effect. However, post-recession buyers are disciplined, cautious and informed. They want a fair price that can be justified.

We wil continue to monitor market activity through the first quarter. In the interim, our job remains the same – to give buyers and sellers the tools to make an informed real estate decision. Tax changes are nuanced and tax planning is different for everyone. There is no “one size fits all” and your tax advisor can provide comprehensive guidance.

Another great article below reiterating how 2018 is a great year to list a home. With rates still low and expected to increase to still relatively low levels (4.5 by years end) , consumer confidence up, wage growth nationwide on an upswing and local inventory remaining tight,  this year is shaping up to be a strong year to sell. With millenials continuing to make their “financial ” mark in our local and national economy and slowly clicking into purchasing mode in suburbs AND in the urban markets, the buyer pool will continue to expand.  A new “urban suburban” niche is in fact being noted by several real estate experts indicating the trend for millenials to seek living in areas featuring amenities yet also with easy access to the cities. Many of our suburbs here in RI feature just that and are likely to attract the ever resurging millenial generation. 62% of millenials surveyed by Nielsen in fact said they prefer to live in the type of “mixed-use ” communities found in close proximity to urban centers where they can be close to shops, restaurants and cities.  This statistic behooves many homeowners living in areas just outside of PVD! If you are thinking about selling a home in RI or MA in 2018 please reach out to me so we can talk about all the real estate opportunities awaiting you ! I truly love what I do and am eager to help!

https://www.realtor.com/advice/sell/reasons-to-sell-your-home-in-2018/?identityID=57c36008e5c103660c00143e&MID=2018_0112_WeeklyNL&RID=4171415682&cid=eml-2018-0112-WeeklyNL-blog_1_reasonstosellin2018-blogs_trends